The two on the bed jolted apart. Lady Julia scrambled for a blanket and yanked it up to her chin. She looked properly mussed, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and cooling ardor, sandy brunette hair in a messy tumble about her head.Victor was apparently too high or drunk to care as he flopped onto his side and looked blearily at us.
“Helena? The fuck, woman?”
“That’s my line,” she ground out. “You’re sexually abusing children now? I didn’t think I could be any more disappointed with you, but now I’m disgusted I’m related to you. I’d kill you myself and save the world some trouble if not for it destroying my own life. Lady Julia. How stupid can you be?”
Lady Julia suddenly looked very young and scared. “What do you mean?”
“Why would you be interested in a cad? Do you not know how many people this man has fucked?” Helena flung a hand at her brother’s figure. “Do you not know how many diseases he’s likely contracted as a result? Do you want to die early of a horrible disease?”
From the look on the girl’s face, this possibility hadn’t even occurred to her before.
“Where’s Gillespie?” Edwin asked of the air.
“He, uh, escorted me here?”
“No, child.” I groaned, at a loss with her naivety. “He didn’t escort you here. Hebroughtyou here. As payment rendered.”
Her mouth opened in outrage, spots of color in her cheeks.
“How do you think we knew to be here?” I asked before she could say anything. “I’ve investigated Gillespie’s dealings for the past few weeks. Victor wanted to bed you, so Gillespie took advantage of your desire to bed Victor and arranged your coming out in order to repay some favor.”
Her eyes shot to Victor, almost pleading, like she wanted him to deny it. Wanted this to be her choice to have bedded him.
Victor sat up more and for once seemed to be paying attention. “Is that how you knew? The hell you watching Gillespie for?”
Lady Julia’s expression collapsed, and she started crying into her hand. More than anything, the embarrassment was probably what got to her. Hopefully, she learned something from tonight.
I had no intention of answering any question of Victor’s, so I only asked Helena, “Can you help her get dressed? I’ll drag him out.”
“Sure. Wait, what about him getting dressed?”
“Half the city’s already seen him naked. He has no shame, it’s fine.”
“You overestimate me.” Victor smirked, rolling out of bed and pulling on pants. “It’s not been half, more like a third.”
I watched him get dressed and honestly considered a gag. For him, a gag might be a necessity.
My knights showed up at that point and dragged Victor’s sorry ass out of the building. Lady Julia was still crying, these big, silent tears streaming down her face. Helena kept an arm around her waist, but I wasn’t sure if it was comfort or assurance the girl didn’t try to bolt.
The second we got free of the building—thank gods for that, my nose threatened revolt—I loaded everyone into the carriage.
Except Victor.
Victor was in cuffs, swaying and staring belligerently at me. Captain Rowan had tied a lead around the cuffs, which was in turn tied to the saddle.
“You’re going to make me walk back, aren’t you?”
Drunk but apparently not stupid. “Yes, I am. I don’t want to share a carriage with a man like you. You get to walk.”
“At least let me put my shoes on!”
I pretended to think about this. It was an hour walk to the palace, and with his poor physique, he’d likely be keeling over by the time we arrived. Shoes were probably fine. He was definitely walking, though, and it was an entirely uphill walk from here. In truth, the petty part of me was quite happy to dole outsome punishment, so… “You’ve got five seconds to put them on. Captain Rowan, if you will start us off.”
He gave an elaborate bow. “Of course, Your Highness.”
Victor spluttered, rounding on the man in a fine dander. “I’m your crown prince, not him!”
Captain Rowan didn’t even dignify him with a response.
